Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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EtCetera Butler from page 8. For 15 years, Butler lived his dream, and it seemed as if nothing would stop him. However, a demon called cancer reared its ugly head, and Butler’s dreams, as well as his life, were in jeopardy. “When I got cancer, I stopped thinking about fame, suc cess and money, all of which were important in the eyes of the world,” Butler admitted. “All I could think about was, was I right with God? Would I die and go to Heaven?” The question that a lot of people seem to struggle with was not a hard one for Butler. It’s a question that Butler saya he’s confident he can an swer. “In 1973, after a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Con ference in Fort Collins, Colo., I knew I was saved,” he said. Butler points to Revelation 3:20 as a promise from God that ensures in his mind where he will spend eternity. With God in his life, even cancer wouldn’t scare him. His soul was prepared for the challenge. Through all the trials and hardships Butler endured in chas ing his dream of becoming a major league baseball player, can cer seemed to have ruined his life. However, through his determination and his faith, Butler did the impossible and beat throat cancer. “I was diagnosed in the winter of 1995 with having throat cancer,” Butler said. “First I had a tonsillectomy, where I learned I had cancer. That was followed by a total neck dissection and 33 rounds of radiation.” Butler lost 20 pounds in the process. After rehab in Mexico and New Orleans, Butler gained most of his weight back and made his return to baseball in 1996. Butler now lives in Atlanta and is the father of four. He also has done some commentary for Fox SportsSouth. “Right now, I’m raising my kids, but I run a ministry called W.I.L.D; Winning in Life’s Decisions,” Butler said. “The program tries to answer the tough questions to get children ready for life through the teachings of the Bible.” Through all of Brett Butler’s life, he has had a dream and persevered. Not even something as scary as cancer could stop him. • Don't 90 to class!! Just think about it--not having to sit in class listening to a lecture. Our College Online students attend class, complete assignments and projects and communicate with their instructors via the Internet and e-mail. Some on-campus sessions may be required, depending on the course. College On TV students attend class by viewing videotapes and go to one of our three convenient campuses to take tests. Some on-campus sessions may be required, depending on the course. Many of these classes will transfer to your college. So no matter where you go to school, with College Online and College on TV, you can get ahead. All at our extremely affordable tuition!! For more information visit: www.college-online.com email: moreinfo@college-online.com phone: 1- 800-922-1183, ext. 8130, or toll-free outside S.C. 1-800-723-0673 fax: 1-864-250-8502 Distance Education Weekend College Schedules that work! dVILLE TECH Col lege That Works SlSTERCARE from page 8 care makes every effort to ensure the victim’s safety, begin ning with establishing an escape plan. “We tell women to identify the exits in their home and to have a bag packed and ready,” Davis said. “Be able to get sup port from friends and family and use code words when you speak with them.” And once the victim calls Sistercare’s 24-hour crisis line intending to escape, Davis said she is moved into either the Lexington or Richland County shelter, neither of which has addresses or phone numbers listed. There are also shelters in Fairfield, Kershaw and New beriy counties, as well a national network of shelters overseen by the National Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, of which Sistercare is a member. Because a victim sometimes feels too threatened by her abuser, Davis said it becomes necessary to move her to an other city or state. Ana in extreme cases, bistercare will proviae an apartment or house if it’s feared an abuser could locate a shelter. “There are people that are so much in danger that we don’t even attempt to house them in the shelter,” Davis said. But victims are often able to build new lives. After the nec essary counseling takes place and emotional healing begins, Sis tercare offers extended services, providing job training and child-care arrangements for those desiring to become inde pendent. And Sistercare does have its success stories. The 32-year-old housewife and mother whose story began this piece has been able to safely secure a life in another city, "holding down a full-time job, getting her own apartment and enrolling her children in school. Nevertheless, Davis warned that some victims don’t have happy endings, with as many as 10 percent returning to abu sive relationships. And she added that there is po way to pre dict whom the next victim could be. “It’s not confined to one racial or economic group,” Davis said “It goes across the lines.” . / * * The Fiue Points Book Shop 716 Santee Avenue in Five Points 803-799-7182 QUALITY USED & OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS BOUGHT AND SOLD drbooks@thestate.infi.net • www.abebooks.com/home/DRBOOKS _I_I_I_- , ..... , ... i .—. ■ ■ ■ i ■ , THE OFFICIAL ^GAMECOCK F SPORTSHOP ---—-1 ___^I 777-8752 15% Student Discount w/ID “7£>e*l ^unecoc^ S6ofi ‘TV&ene ^eal (fantecotfa, Play” _%-fc ■■ .::- S